Footlight



P. M. HOTCHKIN FOOTLIGHT Filed June 22, 1925 Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

UNITED 1min. nit. HOTCHKIN, or cH'IoAGo, ILLINOIS.

FOOTLIGHT.

Application flied Jane 22, 1925; Serial No. 38,771.

' with. In the latter instances it is of course desirable to close the pit and obscure the fixtures so that the floor of the show window presents no obstructions. The herein-disclosed structure is capable of use also for stages for assembly room's, lodge-halls and the like. The features of'the invention reside in providing a deviceof the character mentioned thatis made from a few simple parts that may be readily assembled and installed in the desired location, and after installation the structure will perform its functions in a dependable and effective manner.

On account of its simplicity the foot-ligh parts may be assembled by the manufacturer and sold to the trade and the user as a unit.

I prefer to carry out my invention in substantially the following manner, reference being made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a'transverse section of a portion of a show-window or stage showing the foot-lights installed and raised to the position for illumination.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing the structure in closed position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the foot-light with portions broken away and in section.

The drawings show a typical or preferred embodiment of my invention and similar reference characters have been used to designate like parts wherever the same appear throughout the several views.

In said drawings 5 designates the floor of the showwindow or stage having an elongated pit or gutter 6 therein that may be closed by an elongated door 7, that is hinged along its longitudinal edge nearest the spectators, as shown at 8.

What may be termed the foot-light unit preferably comprises an elongated sheet metal conduit or channel 9 of slightly less length than the pit 6to hold the conductor wires is preferably of rectangular shape in cross-sectionas seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and one of its walls is provided with spaced openings in which electric sockets 10 are mounted.- These sockets have radially disposed diverging arms 11 ofspring metal the outer ends 12'of which are bent inwardly so that suitable reflectors 18 may be removably mounted therein to control the light rays from the bulbs A in the desired direction as will be understood.

The unit above described may be made of divers lengths so that a plurality may be employed to extend along the front of the stage, and the units are swingingly mounted in the pit and connected to the door in a manner so that, when the :dooris lowered and the pit is closed, the reflectors-and light bulbs, as Well as theother parts of the unit will be below the plane of the floor and cow ered by the door. The means for mounting the unit preferably comprises a plurality of angular brackets-or .V-shaped' straps, one of the members 14 of each bracketbeing secured across one of the walls of the conductor channel or conduit 9 and the other members 15 of the brackets being extended to and pivotally connected to the hinge pieces 16 secured to the adjacent wall 17 of the pit. This wall, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 is on the side of the pit opposite the hinge 8 of the door. Links 18 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the angular brackets and at their opposite ends are similarly connected to hinge pieces 19 secured to the underside of the door 7.

With the before described structure, whenever the door is raised to an opened position (Fig. 1) the light-units will be raised to positions to direct the light rays onto the stage and the setting thereon or the show window and its decorations, and upon the lowering of the door the links 18 swing the units downwardly upon the hinge pieces 16 so that the units are lowered into the pit and the floor is unobstructed. In order to support the units and door in desired positions when the latter is raised I provide one or more braces or struts 20 having pivotal connection with the door as at 21 and having slots 22 to receive wing-headed bolts that may be tightened onto the lugs that project from the wall 17, and the latter is slotted as at 24 to accommodate the strut 20 when the door is closed.

Other expedients may be employed in lieu of those specifically described herein and I desire it understood that such substitution and all obvious changes may be made without departing from the principles of my invention.

What I claim as new is z- 1. In a foot-light structure comprising a floor having an elongated pit therein and a door closing said pit, a bracket hinged at one end to a wall of said pit, a link operatively connecting said bracket to said door, means for supporting an electric socket by said bracket within said pit, and means for maintaining said door in divers opened positions.

2. A foot-light comprising a floor having an elongated pit therein, a door closing'said pit, a plurality of brackets hinged to a wall of said pit and extending transversely of the latter, links pivotally connected at their ends to said brackets and door, an elongated conduit within said pit and supported by said brackets, a plurality of electric sockets in said conduit for the reception of lightbulbs, and means for maintaining said door in divers opened positions.

3. A foot-light comprising a floor having an elongated pit therein, a door hinged to an edge of said pit for closing the same, a plurality of angular brackets pivotally connected to the wall of the pit opposite the door hinge and extending transversely of the pit, links pivotally carried by said door and having connection with said brackets,

an elongated conduit supported by said brackets within said pit, a plurality of electric sockets mountedin said conduit, and

struts connected to said door and having sliding adjustable connection with said looking members within said pit. Q r

4. A light-uni for foot-lights comprising an elongated portable conduit, a plurality of electric sockets mounted in a wall of said conduit and supported thereby, reflector holders, a plurality of substantially V- shaped mounting brackets secured transversely to said conduit one arm or which is adapted for pivotal attachment to a sup port, and operating links pivotally connected to said brackets intermediate the ends of the latter whereby to actuate the brackets and move the unit to divers positions.

5. The combination with a. -floor having. a longitudinal pit therein and a door for closing said pit, of a light-unit consisting of a conduit, means for mounting a plurality of electric bulbs thereon, devices operatively connecting said unit and door, and members connecting said devices to a portion of the pit whereby the closing of said door lowers the light-unit into said pit and the opening of said door elevates said unit to a position to direct light rays laterally from said pit at 7 intermediate angles between a vertical and a horizontal plane. 7

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook,

and State of Illinois, 1925.

PAUL M. HOTGHKIN. 

